September 2013 Favorites

Hey guys! Long time no see! I'm sorry about my extended absence. I'm back now, and I'm going to try to get back to a regular(ish) blogging schedule! I figured we could start with a monthly favorites!
Mary Kay Timewise Night Solution- My sister started selling Mary Kay products at the end of August. While I was skeptical of both the products and the selling strategy, I'm quite impressed with the Night Solution. It's touted as a super charged Neosporin type product for your face. I have noticed quite the improvement in my skins tone since I started using it. It heals blemishes really quickly and even did wonders for the post waxing blisters I get when I do my brows.
MAC Fix+ - I've had this little guy for a year now and I go through phases with it. Right now I absolutely love it as a setting spray. It really brings down any powdery-ness and makes my skin look soft and natural, even when I'm wearing a ton of makeup.
CBV's Caramelized Pralines- With fall being here, I decided to start busting out my candles again. Caramelized Pralines is a warm nutty scent that just screams cozy and fall to me. I've been burning it a lot and I just love it more each day.
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - I've already reviewed this here so I won't chatter on too much about it. I've just been using this every time I do my makeup. I've especially been loving using Crave as a nice soft liner and I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to pencil liners now.
ELF Hypershine Gloss in Flirt - I used up one of these glosses for my project pan but that definitely doesn't mean I don't enjoy them! It's not really that pigmented but that just means it can go over any lippie. I like the formula and it doesn't dry out my lips!

I'm glad to be back blogging! I've missed you guys! I start a temporary position with Ulta tomorrow and I'm super excited! If any one is interested, I'll be happy to write about the experience for you when I'm done.

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette Review/Swatches

Here it is, the last Urban Decay palette I have to show you, the 15th Anniversary Palette. It's one of those things in my collection that I keep around because it's a showstopper. The packaging on this is GORGEOUS. The lid lifts off, has a full mirror inside and that lovely filligree detail along the sides. If you don't have this, I'm really really sorry. This was limited edition, released Summer 2011. Still, feel free to drool over the following pictures.

I won't harp on about Urban Decay eyeshadow formula too much, considering this would make the fourth time I've talked about it but a couple things to note. While I do have struggles with UD's glittery shades, this palette has some of the worst offenders. If I'm going to use this palette, I do eye makeup first, remove the fall out and then do face makeup. That doesn't stop me from loving this palette the most.

The shades are a mix of neutrals and brights, with lighter, more glittery neutrals on the left, brights down the middle and darker, smokier neutrals on the right. By now you know I'm not much of a brights gal. Even so, I love playing in the shades from this palette that are out of my comfort zone. I know there are a lot of people who hate UD's various Midnight iterations but I love the two in this palette, Midnight Rodeo and Midnight 15. Overall, it just makes me giddy when I use it and I'm so glad I splurged on it when I had the chance.

So, that's it! Do you have this palette and love it as much as I do? What's your favorite UD palette?

Urban Decay Naked Palette Review and Swatches

Ok so everyone has at least heard of the Naked Palette and there isn't anything new I can bring to the table on this so maybe the title of this post should have been "Jessica Spends An Entire Post Gushing About How Awesome The Naked Palette Is".

The Naked Palette was one of my first higher end makeup purchases and it was definitely my first bigger palette. I have always been (and probably always will be) a neutral eyeshadow girl and the Naked Palette is the poster child of neutral eye shadow. I purchased this right before Urban Decay revamped their formula so I don't really know if these are the new formulation or the old. They are buttery and smooth and highly pigmented.

If I could only keep one palette, this would be it. It's not really lacking much of anything, although Naked Basics makes a nice sidekick. The colors play well together and I can get a ton of different looks from just this palette. Some favorite combos of mine are Naked and Buck, Sin and Gunmetal, Half Baked and Smog, and Toasted and Hustle. Really, if you love neutrals, just assume you will love this.
I hope I didn't gush on too long. This palette gets a ton of hype and I feel like it really is deserving of that. So now the million dollar question is, if I have this one and Naked Basics, is it worth getting Naked 2?

Urban Decay Feminine Palette Review and Swatches

Continuing on with my Urban Decay palettes, we have the Feminine Palette. I have the old school, cardboard packaging and I definitely prefer it to the new zip around Feminine Palette. I actually got this on clearance from the Urban Decay website for like $12.

I got this palette, besides because it was super cheap, but also because the packaging was so cute and I thought it would be a good travel palette. It's probably the least used of all my Urban Decay palettes. I do like the colors but invariably, I have to pull out another palette to feel like I can get a full look out of these and that kind of defeats the purpose for me. I still really do enjoy it when I pull it out though.

I believe these are actually Urban Decay's old eye shadow formula. They are quite buttery but the second and third shades, SWF and Midnight Cowboy, are chunky and a touch hard to work with. They kind of pill up. I love Aquarius every time I wear it. It's just a really nice light aqua color. Darkhorse is actually one I have in another palette.
So, like I said, not my favorite but I do pull it out time to time. Urban Decay does excellent palettes and I feel like this one misses the mark. Anyone else have major disappoinment with an UD palette, despite all the hype they get?

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Review and Swatches

My favorite eye shadows, hands down, come from Urban Decay. They are always buttery, easy to use and just plain awesome. I have four palettes from them and it's high time I showed them some bloggy love. Two of them are discontinued and two have been talked to death in the beauty community so you may not discover anything completely crazy and new in these posts. Still, I'd like to give each one it's own chance in the spotlight as they really are quality products.

First up is Naked Basics. This little palette is the newest in Urban Decay's Naked line, released during the last holiday season. I really resisted getting this for a long time. I kept telling myself you have other similar colors scattered through other palettes, just make do. But I had a coupon to Ulta plus a lot of points racked up so I allowed myself to get it.

And you guys, this is legit. I'm in love. It's better than I imagined. First of all, on it's own, you can get a multitude of great neutral looks. My favorite is simply Walk of Shame all over the lid, Naked 2 through the crease and Venus as a highlight. I also love using Faint either as a liner or to deepen up the overall look. Same with Crave!
But the thing I love about Naked Basics most of all is that it's a great sidekick to basically every other palette I own. These shades fill in the gaps that other palettes might have. I rarely ever want an eye look to be all shimmer but so many palettes are lacking a good matte or at least satin finish shade. This is so convenient to pull out and add that one shade you need to complete a look.

Of course the quality of Naked Basics is typical Urban Decay. Every shade is pigmented and buttery smooth. They blend fantastically. These swatches are on bare skin, no primer. I know my swatch of Foxy looks lackluster but it's so so close to my skin tone (inside my arm, not on the lid).
Honestly, this palette deserves all the hype that surrounds it. Even if you aren't much of a neutral wearer, these shades are basics (hence the name) and will help along any look. The quality of Urban Decay eye shadows makes $27 a bargain for shades you will reach for constantly. I haven't done my makeup without this since I got it.
What do you think of Naked Basics? Are you curious to see what the other three palettes are? ;)

April 2013 Favorites

Another month gone and I've got just a few favorites to share with you. April was an especially difficult month for me so I'm happy to get it over with. Here's to May being full of lovely springtime and lots of good things.
Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser - I love this concealer! I don't just use it under my eyes, even though it is my all time favorite under eye concealer. I use it just like an eraser for my problem areas. Just rub it over problem areas and they basically disappear. I blend out with my Sigma F80 and it looks flawless.
Skinfood Good Afternoon Rose Lemon Tea BB Cream - This is the strangest product I've ever put on my face. It come out of the tube like a cream but as soon as you touch it, it melts into a liquid. It feels like I'm rubbing water on my face. This BB cream makes my skin look like skin but brighter and more fresh and lovely. This with the concealer was my "no makeup" look all month.
Maybelline Color Whisper in Pin Up Peach - This lippie is great for days I don't want to think about what to wear. It's super low maintenance and looks springy and young. Can we sense a trend with all of these products yet?
Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie - I'd pop a little bit of this on the center of my lips, over Pin Up Peach. Berry Smoothie just tones it down and makes the whole look pretty and natural. I don't know how to describe why I loved it but I loved it so much that I was just carrying both lippies in my purse all month.
MAC Blush in Melba - This was my go to blush for just subtle definition. It goes with everything and it's practically impossible to overdo. Melba warms me up so I don't look lifeless but it doesn't overpower my face. Probably in my top 3 blushes of all time.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - No surprise, I broke down and bought this at the beginning of the month. And I've used it every day since. It makes a simple easy look on it's own but it's also the perfect sidekick to any palette. I don't regret picking it up as I'm definitely getting my use out of it.

Any favorites of the month to share? Can you believe it's May already?!

Current Wishlist: April 2013

AKA: I seriously don't need any of this but I'm having a ton of fun window shopping. I really need to be on a spending ban. I'll apologize ahead of time that there is more sarcasm than I'm usually comfortable with in this post.

1. Brushes
I have a ton of brushes but I'm always looking for that one new brush that will preform miracles. I've been wanting two of the Sigma Sigmax brushes, the P82 and the F86. I also want some new blush brushes so I'm thinking of Sigma's F15 and/or MAC's 168 and the Real Techniques stippling brush, which I hear is good for cream blush. For eye brushes, I'm lusting after a MAC 217 and I just need to replace my spoolie.

2. Blushes
I have WAY too many blushes as it is. Regardless I've been wanting to try NYX's cream blushes and their regular powder blushes. I do have one Tarte blush but I'd love to get my hands on Exposed. I've never tried theBalm but blushes are a great place to start right?

3. Candles By Victoria
Yes, I just did a haul and I have another one to show you this week. But that's not keeping me off her site. I currently have 26 (!!!) of her pretty decorative candles and 50 scents on my wishlist. That doesn't even include the scents I've got and want giant candles of.

4. Foundations
I need new base products like I need a hole in my head. I have more than enough. But I want to try all of these. I've tried Matchmaster before and it's a fantastic full coverage, matte foundation. But I haven't tried any of the other four. Maybe when I use up one that I've got, I'll pick up one of these. (Because that's a fantastic policy)

5. Vera Bradley

The only thing on this list that I really need is a new baby bag. Specifically, a smaller cross body bag. And I've had my eye on the VB Mom's Day Out. MonkeyToes isn't really a baby any more and I carry around less stuff for him so I really need a bag that better serves our needs. The others are just because. I mean really, VB turtle gear? I have to get my hands on that!

So that's it! I enjoy making these lists even if I know I'm not going to run right out and buy everything on it. What's currently on your wishlist?

The Five Product Challenge

Quite a while ago, I read a post on the share bear about how she challenged herself to pare down to just the essentials. Just five things. And it stuck with me. I use a TON of products when I do my makeup. So I decided to try it, just to see if I could.
And obviously, I couldn't. I got down to six and I was like NO, there isn't anything I can cut out. Overall, I'm still happy I managed to get down to six.

It came out as a really nice, "no makeup" type of look! As a bonus, I only used one brush as well, my Real Techniques Blush brush.
Do you think you could do it? Even if you think you might only get down to six, I challenge you to give it a go!

March 2013 Favorites

I don't always do favorites posts but this month I very clearly favored certain products so I figured it was definitely worth a post!
Redken Sheer Straight Gel - I'm not much of a gel person, or even a hair product person in general. Usually I just use my Redken Slim Supreme but ever since my hair cut at the end of February, I've needed something more. This helps make my hair really straight and hold my style a lot longer. It doesn't make my hair feel sticky or stiff. An all around win in my book.
Urban Decay De Slick - This is a mini I got from Sephora back in December and I just pulled it out this month in an attempt to use up some samples and minis. I do have a full size of Dew Me but this is fantastic for days when I want a less dewy look. It really makes my makeup last. I really want to get a full size of either this or All Nighter, but it will have to wait until I use up some of my other setting sprays.
Holika Holika Moisture Petit BB cream - My first experience with an Asian BB cream was a fantastic success! It's so moisturizing, has great coverage, and looks really natural. I'll definitely include it in my haul post on Wednesday and I might even do a review!
Batiste Dry Shampoo - This was also a new purchase this month. I needed a new dry shampoo (also because of my hair cut) and I decided to get this one because I'd heard lots of good things. It does exactly what I expected of it, makes my second day hair feel less oily and look a lot nicer.
Benefit Coralista - I already wrote a whole post about it but this was the one blush I wore the very most this month. I've already got a small dip in it and the idea of using it up makes me want to run out and buy a full size.
Beauty blender - Again, another new product this month but long story short, this is worth all the hype it gets. It does take a little more time than a brush or my hands but I love it!

Wet N Wild Vanity Palette - I was reminded I had this earlier this month and I've been loving using this. I'm trying to kill my lemming for Urban Decay's Naked Basics palette and it's only sort of working. Regardless, the quality of the shadows is really top notch and I wish WNW still made these.

What were your favorites this month? Also, look out for a massive collective haul on Wednesday!

January 2013 Favorites

I haven't done a monthly favorites in so long! I've been wearing makeup so much this month, it would be impossible for me to not show you some of my recent favorites!
Garnier Moisture Rescue Lightweight UV Lotion - My skin is pretty dry most of the year but it's the dead of winter so my face has been a peeling flaky desert all month. I basically just pulled this out of my stash of half used beauty products to use in addition to my regular day and night creams. It's not the most incredibly moisturizing but it does help and it's not too heavy. I love it!
Urban Decay Dew Me Moisturizing Makeup Setting Spray - Another product to help my poor parched skin. This is fantastic at making me look dewy, feel a little less tight and dry and setting my makeup so it lasts all day.
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream - This has been my favorite foundation all month. If I can't say it enough, I need the extra moisture and this provides a little coverage, enough to even me out. I can't really say if it's a true BB or not but I see this as a fantastic tinted moisturizer.
Benefit Erase Paste - I've recently picked this back up again as my undereye corrector. I definitely put concealer over it because it would look unnatural on it's own but it's really the only thing that covers up my very dark undereye circles. It's kind of expensive but it's so thick and creamy that it will last you forever.

Benefit Sugarbomb - I have this as part of the Sugarlicious kit and absolutely adore it. The four colors together make a great everyday nude pink cheek that fits in with the very natural looking face I've been doing most days. I'll probably order a full size once I hit pan on this.

MAC Jest and Copperplate - I recently depotted my MAC shadows and put them in my palette and I'll show you that soon but it really renewed my love for MAC eyeshadow. I've been wearing this combo a ton this month. I sweep Jest all over my lid and use a fluffy brush to put Copperplate in my crease. It's still nude looking without being any of the usual suspects.

And that's it! It felt so nice to do a monthly favorites again! If you posted January favorites, leave a link in the comments and I'll check them out!

My Favorite Things 2012: Makeup Edition

It's not quite the end of 2012 just yet but I figured now would be a good time to talk about my favorite products of the year! There were definitely some standout products for me this year. Even with my project pan, there were products I just kept using frequently. I didn't just pick things I purchased this year but things I really really used and loved. It just so happens that most of these were purchased within the last year. I didn't include skincare even though there were a couple of things I got this year that I don't want to live without now. Skincare is something that really doesn't change very often so that kind of deserves it's own post. Without further ado, here's my favorite products from 2012!

 Loreal True Match Lumi foundation - Seriously love this stuff! It was easy to find a good match for me from this range because they have a ton of colors and I even saw testers at a couple of stores. It doesn't set too quickly and it doesn't cling to dry patches. It's not too luminous so it looks really natural.
MAC Fix+ - The makeup artist at the MAC store Sam and I went to managed to sell me on this as I was paying for the other things I bought and I kind of regretted it at first. I mean, did I really need another makeup spray? Probably not but I'd been hearing a ton of people say either that it's a holy grail product or just a big waste of money and I wanted to judge for myself. And it's awesome! I don't usually use it as a setting spray, although it is really nice for that. I mix it with foundation or spray my brush with it (or both) to help foundation go on a little more smoothly. I plan on buying a full size bottle before this baby one runs out because I can't imagine life without it.

Benefit Hoola - I'm sure I've mentioned before that I'm a Benefit fangirl. That's partly due to the adorable packaging and fantastic sets they put out. I got this deluxe size sample from a little set at Sephora. And while the packaging isn't the best ever, it works for me. I had been looking for a bronzer that wouldn't turn orange on me and wouldn't be too dark. Hoola is perfect. It's matte so I can use it to contour or I can layer it over blush to make me look a little more sunkissed. I don't think I'll ever run out of this little sample but if I do I'll definitely buy the full size.
Benefit Benetint - I got this in the Sugarlicious set from Benefit and I know I'll be buying a full size eventually. I love it as a lip tint because it stays all day, looks very natural and goes with any look. I usually put a gloss over it and it's perfect.
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Redhead - I got this because of the name and it turns out the colors are perfect for my skin tone. It just makes me look so glowy without looking like a disco ball. Redhead also plays nice with almost any blush!

 MAC Painterly Paint Pot - Everyone raves about paint pots being good bases for eyeshadows and I wholeheartedly agree. It just holds every color in place and lasts all day long. I like painterly because it's my skin tone so I can put it on without anything else and still feel very polished.
Maybelline the Colossal Volum' Express mascara - This was one of the first mascaras I've ever tried and I continue to repurchase it over and over. It's lengthening and volumizing. It just make my lashes look amazing. Seriously, if you haven't tried this before, you really need to give it a shot.
NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss is Crystal Soda - Like benetint, this is one of those super versatile lip products that goes with every look. I can wear just about anything underneath this and Crystal Soda looks pretty with it. It can look nice and nude but over a bold color it looks fun and youthful. The mega shine formula is a great gloss, non sticky and really long lasting.

 Urban Decay 15th Anniversary palette - This palette was limited edition so you can't get it any more but it's probably my favorite palette that I own. It's got the perfect neutrals, brights and smoky colors for me. The packaging is beautiful but a little annoying (the lid just lifts off, the shiny surface holds fingerprints like a crime scene). I've gotten a ton of use out of this and I always get a little giddy over how pretty it is.
Wet N Wild Color Icon Trio in Walking On Eggshells - This is my perfect every day look. The shadows rival Urban Decay and MAC in quality but it was only like $3. They are buttery smooth and blend beautifully. I use this a ton, especially when I'm running out of time. It's practically foolproof.

So those were my favorites this year. I know it's a little early but share your favorites with me! On Thursday I'll be showing you my nail polish favorites so stay tuned for that!

August 2012 Favorites

Little late but let's talk about my August favorites! It was actually hard for me to pick favorite things this month. I feel like I love a lot of the same products month to month.
NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Tea Rose I got this gloss in a gift exchange for the one year anniversary for a makeup group I belong to on Facebook. Tea Rose is a bright berry color and would definitely work year round. Seriously, NYX is one of my favorite drugstore brands. The quality and wide range is awesome!
ELF Essentials Blending Eye Brush I pulled this out of my extra brush storage at the beginning of the month. Sometimes I struggle with blending and my eyeshadow ends up looking so muddy. This brush has made it a million times easier. It's a little smaller and a little stiffer than my other blending brushes. It's also round instead of tapered. At $1 each, ELF essentials brushes can be hit or miss but this is completely a hit for me.
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden I got this baby primer potion with my Feminine palette (the old school Feminine palette, not the disgusting new one). It's the love child of my two favorite primers, Original Primer Potion and MAC Paint Pot in Painterly. It feels light on the lid and blends really well but it also has the light skin tone color that I like. I will be buying the full size when the mini runs out.
Urban Decay Naked Palette I have so many freaking eyeshadow palettes. Like more than I should since eyeshadow isn't even my favorite products. I used Naked by far the most this month. I'm interested in Naked2 but the original is perfect for me. It's mostly bronzy and gold toned shadows but that's what I use the most anyways.
Redken Real Control Slim Supreme Slimming Serum Redken is one of my favorite brands for hair products and this stuff does not disappoint. It makes my hair feel hydrated and soft and it looks so shiny. Plus it keeps my hair from getting frizzy or sensitized. I use one or two pumps through towel dried hair and occasionally just a drop or two after blow drying. This cost me $17 but I've had it for over a year and I'm only 1/4 of the way through the bottle.
So that's it for this month! I'm so excited for fall. It's my favorite season. We have so much good stuff in store for the rest of the year, I can't wait!